"How much would they give for her, I should like to know, in case they gave anything at all?" persisted Hopeful, quietly but stubbornly. "And now it's the best time. It will be dark immediately. If we go along the gully we shall come out at Dubenka. Let's keep our eyes open, and we may be able to prig something or other." The monotonous speech of Hopeful, blending with the gurgling of the stream, floated down the gully, and enraged the industrious Jig-Leg. He was silent, ground his teeth, and the osier-twigs broke beneath his fingers from sheer excitement. "The women are bleaching their linen now." The horse snorted loudly and became restive. Enwrapped by the mist, she now looked more monstrous and more wretched than ever. Jig-Leg looked at her and spat into the fire. "The cattle, too, are now at large ... the geese are in the fields...." "How long will it take you to spit it all out, you devil?" inquired Jig-Leg savagely. "For heaven's sake, Stephen, don't be angry with me. Let her loose in the woods. It's the right thing to do." "Have you eaten anything to-day?" shrieked Jig-Leg. "No," replied Hopeful, confused and frightened by his comrade's shout. "Then, deuce take you, you may starve for all I care. I spit upon you." Hopeful looked at him in silence, Jig-Leg, collecting the osiers together, bound them into a bundle, and snorted angrily. The reflection of the fire fell upon his face, and his face, with the bristling moustaches, was red and angry. Hopeful turned away and sighed heavily. "I spit upon such sentiments. I say--do as you like," said Jig-Leg, hoarsely and viciously. "But let me tell you this," he went on, "if you go hedging like this any more, you are no company for me. To that I mean to stick. I know what you are, you...." "You're an odd chap...." "No more tall talk." Hopeful squirmed and coughed; then after coughing his cough out, he sighed heavily. "Do you know why I talk so much about it? Because it is dangerous." "All right!" cried Jig-Leg angrily. He picked up the osier-twigs, flung them over his shoulder, shoved the unfinished basket under his arm, and rose to his feet. Hopeful also stood up, looked at his comrade, and softly approached the horse. "Wo-ah! Christ be with thee! Fear not!" his hollow voice resounded through the gully. "Wo-ah! Stand still! Well--go of your own accord--go along, then--there you are!" Jig-Leg watched his comrade pottering about the horse and unwinding the clout from its mouth, and the moustaches of the surly thief twitched with excitement. "Let's be off," said he, moving forwards. "I'm coming," said Hopeful. And forcing their way through the scrub, they went silently along the gully in the midst of the night darkness, which filled it to the very brim. The horse, too, came after them. Presently behind them they heard the splashing of water, which drowned the melody of the stream. "Ah, thou fool! thou hast fallen into the water," said Hopeful.